How to Pay For Home Care

If you have just suffered a trauma or you feel as though your health is declining it may be necessary to think about home care. Today most seniors can stay at home longer then they use to. You can still maintain your independence while finding assistance in your local community. Help that comes to you is far better than going out of your home to receive it. You may want to get another family member to assist you in finding the right assistance in your home.

Finding Services in your area

You may be able to contact local agencies and companies that can help assist you in finding the right group, company or individual that can help you meet your needs. You should be able to find these local services in your phone directory or you can call your local hospitals to obtain a list of service agencies. These services can range from housecleaning to physical assistance and therapy.

Private Services in your area

Individuals who are trained and interested in helping the seniors stay in their home will advertise in the newspapers and on bulletin boards at their local grocery store so that seniors can call when they are in need of assistance. You can find assistance to a doctors' appointment, shopping, housecleaning, personal care, bill paying, outdoor chores, and more. The individual can help you around the house with almost any need you have.

Paying for Services

For most agencies and individuals there are charges that will need to be paid for services rendered. Agencies and companies may be able to bill your insurance for their services but individuals will need to be paid through you. There are several ways that you can handle your own cost for services in your home. You will first need to go over your budget and decide how much you can contribute each month to private care. Then you will need to decide what you will need done in order of priority. Once you have made your list you can start interviewing potential care givers for their services. Not everyone is right for you so it's very important to get to know those who are interested in coming to your home and help out.

Another way to handle the expense is to involve your family. If each family member could contribute $2o.oo and up per month toward your home care it would help you get the services you need. You and another family member can open a private account just for your health care. This makes health care easier to manage and cost efficient. It also gives the other family members who want to help out a way to help. If they live away from home it is hard to help long distance.

Have a family meeting once a month to decide if your needs are being met and if you have enough finances to handle the care you do need. When it is time to increase your care don't be afraid to ask for more help from your family. You need them now more than ever. They will feel better knowing that you are getting the help you need and deserve.

To learn more about this and other health related topics please visit the besthomehealthcare.com/blog blog section of besthomehealthcare.com BestHealthHomeCare.com which specializes in all topics related to home healthcare especially in bringing together home healthcare providers with those in need of home healthcare.

Alzheimer's - Caregiving To Parents, Would You, Could You, Should You

Are you cut out for caregiving? Is Alzheimer's disease within your midst, prodding thoughts on how best to soothe your degenerating parent? Whether the latter resides with you, or at assisted-living or nursing residences, both of you require sustenance.

Having been her full-time caregiver, I am grateful that my Alzheimer's-affected mother, Mary, bestowed upon me that privilege. Over the past decade, I concentrated on fulfilling her palliative needs. When she died a few months ago, I was overwhelmed by mingled sorrow and awe. The realization kept striking me, how often her unconditional love for me had poured through her, despite her eroded brain. I would never have been graced with potent, surfacing expressions of my mother's devotion, had I not chosen the role of dominant guardianship.

Is an inchoate call nudging you, to minister to your elder's suffering, within close proximity to pain, on a round-the-clock basis? Knowledge is key.

(A) Self-Query Per Four Considerations:

Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia. The length and intensity of the affliction, and the individual's behavior patterns vary. Insurance eligibility barriers and insufficient income exacerbate an already worrisome situation. It's reported that close to $175,000 (and it's escalating) in subsistence costs will be expended during an Alzheimer's patient's lifetime. Currently, since 2002, the number of cases has crested to five million from four million. More families feel submerged by conflicted goals. Let's contemplate if an at-home program seems feasible for you as primary attendant.

First, Your Sense of Purpose: Does the thought of home care evoke a feeling of vocation -- or of obligation? Is your relationship with your parent such, that old inner wounds have healed, and will not jeopardize pragmatic chores? Will you respond with patience, fortitude, compassion? Is your genuine motive, guilt or filial love? Will other immediate kin feel displaced, by the necessary ferocity of focus you will direct towards the invalid?

Your Aptitude For Tending: Would you stay motivated, during periods -- and there will be -- when siblings, relatives, friends, cannot or will not proffer support? Do you think you could operate devices such as those testing blood sugar? Are you too squeamish to handle injections, bathing, dressing, feeding the shut-in? You love your parent, but do you like her or him -- like enough, to alleviate the heavy boredom that threatens to plunge the bed-ridden one into despair? Would you read the newspaper to your father, despite the fact you've only had two hours sleep, after allaying his fears all night? Would you amuse your mother with silly jokes, while secretly dispirited, having just deciphered the latest lab reports on her impairment? Would you remind yourself during a crisis, when your ward rebuffs, even insults you, that it is the sickness babbling, not your revered parent? Do you emanate balance, trusting when to insist on rules, and when to deviate? Is there adequate discipline in you to organize doctor appointments, and adhere to fixed intervals for administering medications? Would you be capable of dealing at times, with an ungovernable mind, yours as well as the dependent's?

Your Resilience: Do you experience claustrophobia, whereby being detained bedside, for hours on end, would affect you adversely? Have you the stamina to push a wheelchair through a mall? Do you possess the physical vigor to lift your parent from chair to bed to chair to bed, ad infinitum, during the day? Do you have creative inner resources, that will help you muster fun and laughter for the both of you? For example, I refused to view my mother as a victim; she was hampered by Alzheimer's but not solely defined by it. Humor and lightheartedness, her essence, would always be a part of her life, I had vowed.

Your Learning Capacities: Does a daily routine, a highly structured life, bore or benefit you? Would you consider yourself informed, avid for geriatric study, so that you may confer confidently with specialists, per their diagnoses and recommendations?

Also, could you separate your loved one from the realm of statistics? Would you uncover the degree to which this unique individual emits what I term an "R and T" factor -- being Reachable and Teachable? To my delight, my mother diligently recited her name, Mary, and recalled it ever after. Would you instruct a resilient, and willing parent? My mother had been an independent person. Confirming my instincts, she welcomed avenues, however minor, in which I could relinquish control to her. I would cut her food, then produce a serving spoon, with which she could scoop the morsels and steer them to her mouth. When radically enfeebled her last few weeks, confined to the armchair she favored over hospital-type beds, she let me curl her fingers around the utensil. Subtly I guided her hand, so that she felt she was feeding herself. It will startle you, witnessing a muted personality heralding itself against immense odds on rare occasions.

Your Modified Relationship: Could you bear living with someone you know, who doesn't know you? Will you accept your unsettling new identity, as a stranger who now must earn affection, formerly an offspring's entitlement? Will you risk interactions, with someone you love who will decide whether or not to love you back? Can you remain centered, even contented, in the present moment, where the dear one resides?

Thus, are you suited for caregiving? If so, and your desire to protect matches, if known, your parent's wishes, and your revenue sources accommodate the decision, you and your charge are truly blessed.

If circumstances dictate otherwise, such a boon is not exclusive to at-home environs. You may transfer home care skills to professional facilities. Your purposefulness in showering empathy, in your responsiveness to details others overlook, will matter indeed (visiting frequently, unwrapping treasures such as baby-soft blankets; re-adjusting the slant of mattress when you surmise your parent's discomfort; re-filling the water cup, quenching thirst before asked; scrutinizing the attentiveness of staff, or just sitting quietly, stroking his/her brow). Your fidelity immeasurably elevates the quality of living for an otherwise isolated, inactive, often speech-impaired frail being.

The proposals below may still be germane to your case, in feeding, guarding, and stabilizing conditions for your parent, during each of your encounters. Moreover, they reinforce the significance of self-care. Even if you dwell a sizeable distance from failing relatives, their fluctuating viability most likely weighs palpably on your mind, and you deserve to feel uplifted.

(B) Preparation:

Peruse magazines, books, and websites on the topic of caregiving. Seek out support groups, to heed the dilemmas and irony of parenting your own parent. If possible, enroll in a class on CPR techniques. Discuss with doctors, the merits of depression-screening to avoid confusion with dementia. Analyze visiting-nurse ramifications. If caregiving is not an option, appraise the value of Alzheimer's-geared assisted-living over nursing homes; go online and Google "Alzheimer's placement referral services" if need be.

Access intelligible articles from websites such as alzinfo.org alzinfo.org; alznews.org alznews.org; and AlzheimersDementiaInfo.com AlzheimersDementiaInfo.com. Learn about an intriguing discovery, SORL 1, a potential gene factor that may trigger Alzheimer's. Discern activities appropriate for early stages, such as walking, or crossword puzzle-solving.

Investigate free transportation and other services, that governmental agencies implement. A few social, groups sponsor a one-day small "scholarship," meaning a paid, carefree caregiver's holiday spent any way envisioned -- buying a book, viewing a movie, dining in a café, whatever respite is most life-affirming for you.

Also, consult with close relatives and friends. Allow them to vent objections, and to reveal how they would like to contribute. The more everyone fathoms Alzheimer's disordered progression, and what to expect from each other, the more harmonious, the outcome.

(C) Appreciate Unforeseen Marvels:

Throughout your service to your parent, recognize the intangible jewels embedded in the experience. Yes, Alzheimer's brings beauty as well as burden.

Because you are supervising 24/7, you may witness wondrous occurrences unavailable to those who sporadically visit. Alzheimer's drowns memory. In my mother's case, I perceived that the insidious amnesia was not constant; forgetfulness flowed in waves. There were moments of billowing joy for us, when she suddenly would turn lucid, pat my cheek, utter my name, and hug me. Many days, weeks, months might ebb, before cognition upsurged again. Yet those idyllic moments of re-connection, sustained me.

(D) Accept Ends, And Beginnings:

As the disease advances, symptoms change, and no two illnesses mirror each other. The weakening effects of Alzheimer's may creep along or erupt in stunning form. A few weeks before my mother departed, her legs gave way with no forewarning. I am thankful that until then, she could enjoy shuffling to the wheelchair, with my aid. Before her last 24 months of tribulation, she displayed enough agility to stroll with me for morning "constitutionals" year after year.

At the preliminary levels of Alzheimer's, not just my mother but many others who remain mobile may tumble into terrifying phases of running away, or hiding. Only uninterrupted monitoring of their whereabouts will anchor them to safe surroundings. A childlike urge to pry goads them. If still strong, they might straddle the banister; climb out windows; toss a bowl at the t.v. screen to capture the attention of the people "trapped inside." They may become caught in the act of tasting inedible curiosities, such as a packet of dishwasher gel my mother chewed, which garnered her a swift visit to the hospital. You may have to re-think household design and customs. Clearing lower cabinets, fastening safety locks atop bathroom doors, inserting sturdy gates at stairways. At dinner, no chicken bones, no heavy glassware. How would you protect a toddler? Develop the same mind-set.

In the acute stages, a chronic pain inexplicably might vanish. Sometimes, your loved one may appear to rally, only to relapse, then re-group again. To avert a traumatic jolting from a false sense of hope, don't lose sight of the uninvited but inevitable big picture. Unless a new cure abruptly materializes, a medicine or miracle intervenes, overall direction for the invalid is downward. Whether you're religious or not, the well-known prayer, Grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference, proves consoling for many caregivers. I know it was and is for me. When the moment of parting arises, an awareness fortifies you, that you had provided, not just an efficient home-based hospice, but a haven, for your loved one.

In the days before her passing, for precious intervals, my mother would grip my wrist, while laboring to formulate the word "love." Our relationship had swirled full circle, with her maternal impulses roused, intent on emboldening me for whatever the future unveiled. Whether at the end she was asserting our biological ties or anointing me her "honorary" daughter, our link proves insoluble.

If you have spiritual inclinations, I encourage you to hold a constructive, even Bigger Picture in mind -- if you trust, as I do, in divine love, a tremendous reassurance will envelop you, With gratitude, we may sense that those whose passing we will mourn, shall explore a greater unseen eternal reality, savoring a vast capacity to be present to us, and cherish us. May you and your loved one resonate with peace.

Welcome to the writings -- Trusting they help. C. Gia is a professional free-lance writer. The latter has drawn upon, per this essay, over a decade's experience, in hands-on overseeing the welfare of her Alzheimer's parent. A new website highlighting her varied columns will be furnished in the near future.

Cash Vs Accrual Accounting

Most business owners file their taxes on a cash basis. The reason for this is so the business will not be required to pay tax on funds that have not yet been collected. This makes perfect sense from the standpoint of taxation. However, there are certain disadvantages to relying on cash basis financial statements for management and valuation purposes. Cash basis statements are often inconsistent, are not good predictors of cash flow and do not measure revenues that have been earned but not collected. Accrual based financial statements state revenue in the period which it is earned and expenses are stated in the period incurred providing a consistent and accurate measurement of financial performance. Revenue that is earned but not yet collected is stated as accounts receivable, an asset on the balance sheet. Cash basis financial statements do not adequately measure the true performance of the business since there is a misalignment between income and expenses.

Cash statements are inconsistent and can give a false impression of the company's current performance. Consider a scenario when the month has three payrolls instead of two and the full year's premium for liability insurance is due to be paid. On a cash basis, the financial statement would reflect a big increase in expenses that is not offset by cash deposits. It would appear when trending this data that the company's financial performance has declined, when in reality, it may have actually improved. Using the accrual method, each payroll would be expensed as the expense is incurred rather than when it is paid and the liability insurance expense would be evenly spread over a twelve month period. Cash basis statements can make it appear that the company's profitability is improving when in fact, the increase in cash could be related to an increase in collection of accounts receivable.

Cash flow as an indicator of performance can be very misleading. In a month where you have a dramatic increase in hours or admissions, your cash flow may suffer even though your profitability is increasing. Since the income and expenses are misaligned, your payroll would go up in a month of increased business but you may still be collecting receivables from previous months reflecting lower cash collections. The cash basis statement would show reduced profitability. Since accrual statements match the payroll expenses incurred with the revenue in the same period it is earned, the increase in profitability would be evident. On the other hand, if business is declining, the reverse situation can occur. As you collect revenues from prior, higher grossing periods, payrolls decrease as business decreases and cash flow improves. This can give owners a false sense of security. By the time a declining trend results in a negative cash flow, it is difficult to reverse the trend and the company may suffer devastating losses. By reviewing monthly accrual statements, these trends can be identified early and actions can be taken to reverse declining trends.

Cash basis financial statements do not track the collection of accounts receivable. Since accounts receivable is often the largest asset of a home care company, it is especially important to monitor it closely. Receivables that are not kept close track of are often never recovered resulting in unnecessary losses. By including accounts receivable as an asset on an accrual based balance sheet, business owners are more likely to take proactive measures to preserve this valuable asset. Changes in accounts receivable affect a number of important measurements that analysts use to determine the health and viability of a company. An accrual based balance sheet can provide information about how long it is taking to collect receivables and how likely it is that a company will meet its financial obligations over time.

For small businesses, it may not be practical for a CPA to compile monthly accrual based statements. It may make sense to have a bookkeeper trained by an industry specific financial consultant to enter the information in an accrual format. Accountants can also convert statements to a "modified accrual" format at the end of each year but this approach is much less desirable since it will not give you the information you need each period to better manage your company.

Accrual based financial statements are superior to cash basis statements for the management and valuation of your company. CMS even requires Medihappinesslifetime.com care agencies to utilize accrual accounting in the cost report filing. Accrual statements not only give a true picture of how the business is performing, but also provide accurate data for budgeting purposes and to predict future cash flows and trends. Accrual Based financials statements are an accurate, consistent and reliable method of measuring your company's performance.

Beth DaSilva is a M&A broker specializing in Fleetridge.com Home Health Mergers and Acquisitions. She is the president of Fleetridge Pacific, a M&A and Consulting firm based in San Diego, CA.

Checklist For Selecting a Home Care Agency

After deciding home care is the right option for you or a loved one, the next decision is which home care professional to choose. Phone books or internet searches reveal dozens or hundreds of options, so how do you narrow the field to find the best caregiver?

Independent Contractor or Home Care Agency

One quick way to reduce the list of choices is to decide between hiring a home care agency and hiring an individual to provide care.

On the surface, an individual caregiver may seem appealing. They are often less expensive than home health agencies, a help to families already struggling with high medical bills. However the cost of an independent caregiver doesn't include all expenses associated with care. The family must calculate and pay payroll taxes. The family may have to pay for a criminal background check. If the caregiver is injured on the job, the family may be responsible for another set of medical expenses.

A home health agency handles the above situations, leaving the family free to focus on caring for the loved one. Agencies can provide backup caregivers in the event additional care is needed or the primary caregiver is sick or on vacation. An agency is familiar with all care a patient might need and can provide caregivers of any skill level.

Professional Qualifications

Whether you are looking for services as involved as home nursing or as straightforward as companionship, the caregiver should have appropriate training and licensing to ensure your loved one receives needed services and is protected in an emergency. Ask about what training and experience the caregiver and the home care agency have had. Confirm the agency performs thorough background checks on their employees.

Medical needs don't care what time it is. You want a home care agency that is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Verify there is a support system in place to cover for the caregiver in the event of illness or other absence. Ask what the agency can do if you need emergency coverage in the event your loved one suffers an unanticipated setback.

Personal Compatibility

Too many clients overlook the importance of personal compatibility between the caregiver and the patient. These two people will be spending a lot of time together and clashing personalities not only create an unpleasant environment, but can create also stress that can endanger the patient's health.

A home care agency performs an interview with the family not only to gauge the level and type of service needed, but also to get insight about who the patient is. The agency will try to match patients with compatible caregivers but in the end no one can predict how two people will get along. If there is friction that can't be resolved, ask the agency for a replacement. This is no reflection on the caregiver's ability and is common practice in the home care industry.

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on interimhealthcare.com home care agency, please visit interimhealthcare.com interimhealthcare.com/.

Personal Security - Protecting Your Person

Personal security is a concern for many people. Statistics constantly point to the fact that a large number of people are susceptible to provoked or unprovoked attacks. Thanks to the fact that there are many devices available, it can be hard to know what kinds of things can best enhance your personal security.

Included below are a couple of types of personal security products that can help you feel safer or defend yourself in the event that you are attacked:

Pepper spray - These are effective items that are used by many people. Pepper spray is so effective that many different law enforcement agencies around the world use them. They are preferred by many because they are not lethal, like a gun is. However, they are still very effective. The user needs to be careful, however, to not accidentally spry in his or her own face.


Alarms - Would 100+ decibels get your attention? The answer: yes. This is why personal alarms are so effective. They are small, but definitely pack a big punch. Basically, these alarms work by removing a small pin if you are being attacked. It is so loud that people from a wide radius will hear it and will come to see what is happening.


Stun gun - There are some rules and regulations regulating who can have and use stun guns, but the fact is that these are definitely effective. A stun gun will pretty much render any attacker completely disabled. This will allow you to thwart an attack and have time to escape. Or if you are a police officer, this will allow you to subdue an out-of-control criminal and make an arrest.

The thing is that you can never really tell when you are going to need a personal security alarm like this.

Sometimes people put themselves in precarious situations where problems or attacks are more likely to occur. Still, other times the attack is completely random. If you ever find yourself in any of the following situations, having some kind of a personal security device may be a good idea for you:

Alone in a parking garage - Nobody likes to be alone. If you are alone and in the dark, that makes it even worse. You often hear of muggings taking place in parking garages. Sometimes it occurs as a person leaves work for the evening. People in these situations are often in danger because there is little they can do to protect themselves. Some kind of an alarm or personal security device can help scare off potential attackers because the sound will resonate throughout the garage.


On a blind date - A blind date can be exhilarating and nerve-racking for the same reasons. You are with somebody you do not know. Most likely there will not be any trouble, but you do not want to risk your safety. Having a can of pepper spray on your key chain or a discreet alarm is always good to have just in case.

Because personal security is so important, it is always a good idea to make sure you have a way to improve your safety.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background also includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her useful articles on home security, please visit homeandpersonalsecurity.com Home Security, supplier of security systems, personal security, wireless security systems, and more.

3 Outstanding Home Based Business Ideas

Like many people, you may be interested in starting a home based business. Through this article, you are provided an overview with four outstanding new home based business ideas.

One home based business idea that you will want to keep in mind is establishing a travel agency. Thanks to the Internet, it is very easy to run a travel agency from the comforts of your own home. With the right software, you can operate your home business by utilizing the computer. Most reservations for customers can be booked using your home computer travel reservation system that operates off the Internet.

Another home based business idea that may be of interest to you is a pet daycare service. There is low start up costs with this one. This can either be done on your premises or you can develop a system whereby you and your staff take care of pets in their own homes. You can advertise your new business but sending out fliers or placing a small classified ad in the newspaper.

The third outstanding home based business idea that is gaining attraction today is sending out greeting cards for your local businesses for a monthly fee. A number of individuals have established very successful greeting card service businesses from their own homes. What you do is contract with local businesses to send out greeting cards to their customers on a regular basis and you charge them a monthly fee for providing this service for them. With this business, you will get a continuous monthly income.

Of course there are many other home based business ideas that you will want to consider if you are interested in establishing the best home based business bench for you. Just make sure that you do something that you are passionate about. Also do your due diligence by researching the market thoroughly before you dive in.

Krystine Lewis writes articles on several subjects including internet marketing and work at home job reviews. You can see more of Krystine's work at home ideas on her web blog and sign up for her free newsletter at reviewworkathomejobs.com reviewworkathomejobs.com

Services Provided By Home Health Care California

There are a number of home health care California facilities that are available, offering everything from personal care to health care. Home health care services involve therapy services and other skilled attendants, nursing care facilities. These have become important as people want to be home when receiving medical care instead of being admitted into nursing care units.

Home health care basically encompasses assistance with daily activities like bathing, dressing and walking. Services like shopping, companionship, pharmacy infusions and medication administration are also part of the services rendered by these companies. Many other related services that are advertised are speech and physical therapy, medical social services.

These facilities have come up basically to fill the gap of assistance that is needed by chronic or invalid recovering patients to remain at home. They support the needs of these people to help them recover and live as independently as possible.

In case, you are looking at a long term care for your child or parent, which can be emotionally and physically tiring. Evaluate your need and priority. For the main daunting task before every person who is looking for home health care California is to look around and compare the services offered according to the price charged. The best way to start looking in California would be to do a search on the web to come up with a few good options that can be followed up.

One thing that needs to be done before home care services are provided is to make the home safe for ill elderly people who might be living alone. Installing railings on the stairs, moving furniture to make adequate space, anti skid adhesive strips in the bathtub and bathroom, grab handles for safety may be a few things that become a help.

Other than that Adult day care facilities are also there where home care agencies provide supervision and medical care in safe environment, to those who are able to move around. It is a good way for you to get back to work while not worrying about the person being alone at home.

Another concern that is prime important is looking after the cooking and nutritional needs of the old person. Age and illness can become a deterrent for shopping and driving services are available with many agencies to help with these activities even though the person may not be ill or invalid. Prioritize your need and then look around specifically for the service that is needed.

Anita Choudhary has been freelancing and writing for over 4 years and can be contacted at

How to Sell Home Through a Realtor and Save Money

Economic conditions mean that more than ever before, people are looking to quickly sell their house, to improve their own financial situation, as well as their own piece of mind. The stress of a mortgage burden and uncertainty over whether prices will continue to fall mean the there is increasing pressure to sell home fast.

But we won't panic - there are things that you can do that will save you money, and also improve your chances of getting the price you want.

We will assume that you are going to use a realtor to help you sell your property. Please note, however, that this is not vital - you can go it alone, which would save you money. We examine that option in more depth in the links at the end of this article.

Carefully select your Realtor

Realtors are no different to any other money making business - they want your custom, which puts you in a position of power when it comes to negotiations. The first step is to identify 3 or 4 that you would be happy to represent you. Base this decision on reputation and ensure they are members of a recognised organisation. The National Association of Realtors is one good example, with over 1.2 million members across the United States. In the UK, a similar organisation is the the The National Association of Estate Agents. It is also a good idea to get a mixture of large companies and smaller, independent realtors so that you have a choice across a variety of services.

Negotiate Terms

You will then need to get quotes from them - don't be afraid to play one off against another. Some may charge a fixed fee, another a percentage of the sale. Some will use a mixture of both. Compare what the overall cost will be, should the realtor successfully sell your property. Once the realtor has given you the details of their charges, tell them what else you have been offered by a rival - they want you as a customer and will expect you to haggle. If they refuse to play ball, just inform them you'll take your business to their big local competitor and walk away.

Valuation

When you are comparing the services of several realtors, never tell them what another service has valued your property at (and believe me, they will ask!). They will use this opportunity to play themselves off against a rival - remember, a higher valuation is only any good if you achieve it, and if you are looking to quickly sell house, then this may not be realistic. You never have to accept a valuation - if you think it is over or under valued, negotiate with the realtor until you are happy.

Getting the service you should expect

Once you have gone through the above tips, you should now be with a realtor who will do a good job of helping you to sell home fast, slow or just test the water. You may find, however, that you become unhappy with some aspects of the arrangement. Perhaps you are not getting as many viewings as you would like. If this occurs, tell the realtor that you are going to go multi-agency. They may attempt to put up their fees, but stand your ground. You can then approach other agencies, explain the situation and the deal you have with the current realtor, and ask for the same. Your property is now being marketed by more than one agency, which may well help the sale of your home.

Will Downing has prepared a website with more tips on how to quickly sell your house [quicklysellhousenow.com/] You may feel as though you want to go it alone without a realtor, in which case click on how to sell home [quicklysellhousenow.com/?page_id=20] to learn how to do it yourself.

Foster-To-Adopt - Private US and International Adoptions - How To Choose Which Is Right For You

Considering adoption can be overwhelming & confusing. Should I adopt from foster care, international adoption or private US adoption? It can seem overwhelming to have to choose and the answer for each family will be different. Information to help you decide which path is right for your family. Orphans, no matter where they are from, need a loving family - are you willing to be that family?

Adopting from Foster Care

Why adopt from Foster Care:

There are 115,000 children available for adoption in the foster care system. (Number quoted is from Adopt Us Kids)

The requirements are often very flexible. You do not have to be married and whether or not you already have children does not matter. Your race, sex, and sexual preference (homosexual or not) does not matter. You can have many different medical conditions and still be a wonderful foster/adoption parent. (International adoption often bars those with medical conditions.) It does not cost much, if any money, to adopt from foster care. The training, home study & legal fees are usually paid by the state. If you do have to pay anything out-of-pocket, you will get reimbursed when you file your taxes by taking the adoption tax credit. (Visit IRS for more details) Children from foster care may come with monthly stipends (older children or those with special needs) to assist you with covering their expenses. For some children, this money will continue to be available, even after you have adopted them. These children are often also available for free college tuition (at a state school).

You can adopt children from your own state or from out-of-state. Children are often posted on websites, such as AdoptUsKids.org

How to get started - contact your state's Department of Family & Protective Services.

Things to consider about Foster Care:

You can choose to foster-to-adopt. Which means, you will have a child placed in your home as a foster child. The child will be in the process of being declared available for adoption. You will have an opportunity to have the child in your home before you make a final decision to adopt or not. The downside is, there is a small chance after the child is placed in your home that the birth family may choose to take the child back. This window of opportunity for the birth family is small - usually 6 months or so. Once that period is over, the child can not be taken from you. You will need to talk to your social worker to learn more about the individual circumstances of your child. Children were removed from their families and often come from abusive backgrounds. Children may have been physically, emotionally or sexually abused. Children may have been exposed to alcohol or drugs while in the womb. An excellent book to help you parent these children is "Parenting the Hurt Child" by Gregory Keck and Regina Kupecky. Only 3% of children in foster care are less than one year old. The odds of getting a baby are slim. 60% of children in foster care are over 6 years old. 60% of children are minority. (Numbers quoted are from the Adoption Institute)

Private U.S. Adoptions

Why adopt from private adoption:

Parents choose to give up their child for adoption and often pick out the family for their child. These adoptions are often through profit and non-profit agencies. You may also go through an adoption attorney. If you would like a newborn, this is often the only way to add a newborn to your family. Most private adoptions are for children under 6 months of age. Many times, the adoptive parents will be able to bring their baby home from the hospital. More information is available about the child. You will likely know information about the birth family, including medical history. More choice - you have a greater say in choosing your child. (In international adoption, a social worker will choose your child for you & you can only decline them if they have significant medical conditions.)

Things to consider about Private Adoption:

Private adoptions are not cheap. The price will vary depending on the agency you use, but are usually between $10,000 - $20,000. Also, these fees may vary greatly based on the circumstances such However, do not forget about the adoption tax credit from IRS. You may qualify to have a tax credit of up to $13,000. You will usually know who the birth parents are and they will (usually) know who you are. The birth mother is often the one who picked you! You will have the option of keeping in contact with the birth mother/family (an "open adoption"). Birth mothers can change their mind. However, this is governed by law & will be determined by the state that you live in. Most states limit it from the day the child is born up to 30 days later. You may not get to choose the gender. You may be matched with a child that is not born yet & the gender is unknown.

Adopting Internationally

Why adopt Internationally:

There are 143 million orphans in the world. (Number by Unicef)

You can pick the country you adopt from & your child's ethnicity. The most popular countries for adoptions are (listed in order) - China, Ethiopia, Russia, South Korea, Guatemala, Ukraine, Vietnam, Haiti, Kazakhstan, India. (Source - US State Department)

You may be able to choose their gender. Each country has different rules on this issue, but many will let you state a preference. If you already have a child, this may impact whether or not you can specify gender.

You can request a certain age. While newborns are unheard of in international adoption, it is possible to get a child under 1 or older. Most children will be closer to 1 by the time the are brought home, if you request a baby. There are many toddlers and younger children available (as well as older children).

Very unlikely, if not impossible, that a child once he/she is matched with you will be taken back by the birth family.

Things to consider about International Adoption:

It is expensive. No way around this - the costs are usually around $20,000 - $40,000 or more. You will pay for your agency, your home study, training, the orphanage donation to the foreign country, travel costs and more. However, for many people, the cost may be a deciding factor. If you decide this is the right option, there are many ways to raise the funds, including refinancing your home, no interest adoption loans, an extra part-time job, gifts from family & friends, fundraisers with your church, etc. There is a tax credit of up to $13,000 from IRS and many grants available.

Choose your adoption agency carefully. Some agencies are only out to make a profit, others are out to help children find a permanent home. Talk with others who have adopted using your agency. Research the agency on bbb.org/us/Find-Business-Reviews Better Business Bureau. Join adoption groups online & see what others are saying about the agency.

International affairs can greatly impact your adoption. A country that may be open for adoption today could change their laws tomorrow. Countries change their requirements for adoptive parents & this could interrupt your adoption plans. Visit adoption.state.gov adoption.state.gov/ for more information about international adoption.

This will usually be a closed adoption. You may know very little if anything about the birth family. You may not have any medical history about the child or their birth family. Sometimes, the child's birthdate is just a guess.

The requirements for international adoption are very strict. If you have medical or mental conditions, you may not be allowed to adopt. If you have too many children, weigh too much, have too many divorces, or even single or homosexual, some countries will not allow you to adopt. Each countries requirements vary, with China being one of the strictest and countries in Africa often more lenient.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU ADOPT FROM:

There are 143 million orphans in the world. You can choose to make it 143 million - 1.

As you begin this process, be sure and talk with families who have adopted. If you do not know of anyone who has adopted, contact an adoption agency and ask for references. Some churches have orphan/adoption ministries where those who have adopted get together for support. They would love to have you join them and ask questions. Also, the internet is full of families who blog about their adoption. You can "follow" their blogs and see what they experience. One family you can follow is the Redden family as they adopt a special needs little girl from China. whenlovebringsyoutome.blogspot.com whenlovebringsyoutome.blogspot.com/

Geriatric Care Management - Helping the Sandwich Generation Care for Mom

Susan was absolutely overwhelmed with working full-time, caring for her two grade-school children, and keeping her household afloat. Susan's 70 year old mother, Grace, had recently become ill. She was losing weight, showing signs of memory loss, and mismanaging her medications. Grace had always been independent and was resistant to help. Constant worry over her mother, and the friction between Susan and her mother caused by Susan "telling her mother what to do" was about to put Susan over the edge. Susan wasn't sure that her mom should even be living alone, but was unsure of her options. Her mother was resistant to every suggestion that Susan had. A friend suggested that Susan try a geriatric care manager. Susan searched the web to find a reputable geriatric care manager.

Geriatric care managers (GCM) are professionals, typically registered nurses or social workers, who specialize in aging issues. They offer their knowledge of elder issues and the local community to compassionately help families quickly pinpoint problems, prioritize needs, and offer solutions. GCMs provide assistance in finding resources, making decisions, and managing stress. GCMs also offer family mediation, communication with physicians and other medical providers, and crisis management. Geriatric care managers usually have great knowledge of the local elder care community and can steer families towards the best resources. They save time and money for the family.

In Susan's case, the GCM was able to take a huge burden from her shoulders. After the initial screening, the GCM met with Susan and made a plan that included daily in-home help, regular visits from the GCM for ongoing assessment, medication management, practical suggestions to deal with the memory loss(including proactive safety measures), and regular detailed communication with Susan. The GCM was able to candidly point out areas in which Grace needed help, and Grace slowly began to trust the GCM. Susan also hired the GCM to accompany her mother to doctor's visits and medical appointments so that her mother would have an educated advocate to ask questions and express concerns to the medical providers. Trust was built between Grace and the GCM, and at the appropriate time the geriatric care manager persuaded Grace that she needed to choose either a live-in caregiver or an assisted living. After exploring the options thoroughly with Susan and her care manager, Grace was able to choose and accept a live in caregiver. Grace was able to stay home with this help, living an active and happy life. Susan was able to focus on her children, assured that her mom was receiving great care. Susan and Grace both noticed that their time together was less stressful because the GCM was taking care of details that had earlier caused friction between them.

I would recommend the National Assosication of Geriatric Care Managers website to learn more about caring for your aging loved one, and for help in finding a reputable geriatric care manager. You should look for care managers who are credentialed and have local references with whom you can speak. It is also beneficial if the care manager has been active in the local senior community so that she has extensive knowledge of the local resources, as the resources will vary from city to city. Don't be afraid to check with the credentialing agencies to make sure the geriatric care manager is in good standing and current with their membership and license.

choicesinseniorcare.com choicesinseniorcare.com
caremanager.org caremanager.org

A Search For Ukrainian Fiancee - Pros And Cons Of Resorting To Ukrainian Dating Agencies

Of course, the most comfortable and affordable way to do the search for your Ukrainian fiance is from the comfort of your own home. Here is where online Ukrainian dating agencies can provide you with excellent tools and opportunities for carrying out your search. However, before engaging in this fascinating, exciting, but also times consuming and costly search of the ideal lady you should definitely learn more about some pros and cons of resorting to online dating agencies services.

Here we go. As I have already mentioned, online dating agencies can provide excellent solutions for international dating, because they can help you to meet dozens and dozens of beautiful ladies from all over the world even without having to leave your home.

Ukrainian dating agencies in particular offer their clients large databases of beautiful Ukrainian ladies, willing to correspond and start relationships with foreign men. Among the substantial advantages of resorting to the services of these dating agencies is their ability to provide a range of concomitant services, such as translation of your correspondence and phone conversations, special mailboxes for corresponding with their ladies, flower and gift delivery services, etc.

Some of the larger companies many even serve you as your tour operator, making all the travel arrangements, such as air fare, hotels, taxi's, visas, shopping, sightseeing, etc. Moreover, they would arrange for you meetings and special events with several dozens of ladies present, where you can personally meet many of them and decide which ones you wish to correspond and get a closer acquaintance.

All the above-mentioned pros sound very exciting and promising. Even though many men do have very positive experiences resorting to the services of Ukrainian dating agencies before making a start on this trip, you still should learn more on the major cons of such companies.

First, you should be aware of the fraud you may have to deal with engaging in online international dating. As in any other business, there are people who take their jobs seriously, but there are others, who are in search of making money fast and easy. These people generate dating fraud and scams. So if you do not want to risk your money, time and get your feelings hurt, you better be careful as to which Ukrainian dating agencies you select and learn more on some of the ways you may be scammed.

Among the most popular scams, there is faking identity. People may upload the photos of beautifully looking ladies, but sometimes you may be unpleasantly surprised by discovering that you were corresponding with a man instead of a pretty lady! So always carefully read all you can about Ukrainian dating agencies you wish to work with. Read about their history in business, their About us, Privacy Policy and FAQ pages. Find out if they take the fraud problem seriously and have developed any fraud protection programs.

Follow these guidelines and this will help you to make your international dating safe and much more pleasant for you.

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Home Improvement Grants - What Are They?

Wouldn't it be wonderful to renovate your home and let someone else pay for it? In many circumstances you can do just that! There are dozens of programs available today through local agencies, state governments and the federal housing authority that allow homeowners of every economic status and area of the country to apply for grants and/or financial aid packages to help pay for personal renovations and remodeling on your private home.

Some agencies limit their funding for projects in specific areas of interest such as the revitalization of certain geographic areas; historic preservation; handicapped accessibility; low-income housing renovation; etc. Others offer funding to homeowners who own homes built before a certain year; located in a specific neighborhood or that may require a specific type of renovation such as insulation; roofing; electric; plumbing;' siding; etc. The key to finding funds for your specific home remodeling project is to locate the agency or organization that offers similar grant programs.

For instance, if you are interested in making your home more energy efficient consider contacting your local utility companies; "green" organizations or state housing authority t inquire about any funding programs they may offer.

Interested in purchasing an historic home, but not sure you're wallet is ready to handle such an expensive revitalization project? Talk to your local and state historic commissions and revitalization agencies for help. Many offer grants to historic property homeowners to bring these historic homes back to their previous grandeur.

It's not uncommon today for many homeowners to need to make their existing property accessible to an older family member who has become disabled and no longer capable of caring for themselves alone. Grants are available by many disability and older American organizations and agencies to remodel current bathrooms; add sufficient ramps and so on in existing homes.

Who's eligible for these types of home remodeling grants? Virtually any American citizen who is 18 years or older and either owns or rents their home and meets a funder's specific grant requirements. I usually requires filling out a short questionnaire to determine eligibility, followed an official assessment of your needs and request.

Depending on the agency that's offering the grant, and the amount being requested, you may be required to submit a detailed plan of your project including a substantiated budget and a variety of personal financial information including current pay stubs and federal income tax returns for the last one to three years. The entire process can take anywhere form a few weeks to a year or more.

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